creditshelf successfully continues growth in 2020

• Increase in arranged loan volume fuels revenue growth
• Greater efficiency and careful cost management stabilize total expenses at slightly below prior-year level
• Successful continuation of institutional funding strategy and selective growth investments in platform technology and product development
• Forecast for 2021: Consolidated revenue to rise to between EUR 6.0 million and EUR 8.0 million, while EBIT will improve to EUR minus 3 million to EUR minus 4 million
• Multiyear strategy for a combination of sustainable growth and breakeven on track

Frankfurt am Main, March 30, 2021 ‒ creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft, the leading credit platform for digital SME finance in Germany, is publishing its 2020 Annual Report today.

The company recorded further growth in both its arranged loan volume and its revenue, despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis. This development was driven by a balanced mix of existing and new clients, a growing number of network partners and, in particular, the successful implementation of creditshelf's institutional funding strategy. The company has substantially broadened and enhanced its funding base to include well-known platform investors such as BNP Paribas Asset Management, the creditshelf Loan Fund which has the European Investment Fund as its anchor investor, and Amsterdam Trade Bank.

creditshelf CEO Dr. Tim Thabe commented on fiscal year 2020 as follows: "Looking back, we can say this was an extraordinary year for our clients, partners, and staff. I am very satisfied with our results and our development. Our business model has more than proven its worth and we were able to arrange comprehensive debt funding solutions for our SME clients. Demand for supplementary SME finance remains strong despite the massive government support programs. Fast-growing scale-up companies in particular need debt capital to finance their growth and innovation. Our broader investor base shows that we operate an attractive platform business that we will continue to expand in 2021."

The key factors influencing the operating result (EBIT) were the rise in revenue, careful cost management leading to a slight year-on-year decline in total expenses, and higher amortization of intangible assets. Personnel expenses rose during the first half of the year due to the planned expansion in the workforce (2020: 57 permanent employees; 2019: 49 permanent employees) and higher expenses for share-based employee incentive programs. Conversely, the clear drop in non-personnel operating expenses - the result in particular of reduced marketing and advertising expenses despite simultaneous enhancements to the marketing infrastructure and of lower legal and consulting costs - had a positive impact on the cost base.

"We used fiscal year 2020 to make creditshelf even more efficient and effective, especially with respect to our human resources, marketing infrastructure, and risk analysis capacity. This puts us in a very strong starting position for increased growth in the coming fiscal year," said CFO Fabian Brügmann.

Assuming higher vaccination rates and an associated trend towards an economic recovery, creditshelf's Management Board is expecting growth to pick up in 2021. It is planning an increase in consolidated revenue to between EUR 6.0 million and EUR 8.0 million. Equally, the Management Board is expecting consolidated EBIT to improve to EUR minus 3 million to EUR minus 4 million.
 

Key Figures at a Glance

The full 2020 Annual Report is available for download effective today from the company's investor relations website, ir.creditshelf.com.
 

Corporate Communications:

creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft
Jan Stechele (CPO)
Birgit Hass (Head of PR)
Mainzer Landstrasse 33a
60329 Frankfurt
Germany
Tel.: +49 (69) 348 77 2413
presse@creditshelf.com
www.creditshelf.com

Investor Relations:

creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft
Fabian Brügmann (CFO)
Maximilian Franz (Investor Relations Manager)
Mainzer Landstrasse 33a
60329 Frankfurt
Germany
Tel.: +49 69 348 719 113
ir@creditshelf.com
ir.creditshelf.com

About creditshelf

ir.creditshelf.com

creditshelf is the leading credit platform for digital SME finance in Germany. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company arranges bank-independent, flexible financing solutions via its constantly growing network. creditshelf caters to complementary needs: SME entrepreneurs gain easy access to attractive alternative financing solutions, institutional investors can invest directly in German SMEs, and the company's partners can support their clients as innovative providers of new credit solutions. creditshelf's business model revolves around its unique, data-driven risk analysis and unbureaucratic, fast digital processes. creditshelf covers the entire value chain: Its platform is used to select suitable credit projects, analyze potential borrowers' credit quality, perform credit scoring, and price risk adequately. The company receives fees from both borrowers and investors for these services.

creditshelf has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard segment since 2018. The experts making up its team have many years' experience of SME financing and are trusted partners and visionaries for building tomorrow's businesses.